National Republican., 1887-02-23
AMERICAN SHIPPING LEAGUE.
Action OF the National Convention
Presented TO Congress.


Presented to Congress.
Senator Frye, in the Senate, and Mr..
Martin, Of Alabama, in the House, presented
to-day the following memorials to Congress
from the American shipping League:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. o, 1ss7--TToS.
JOHN SHERMAN, President United States
Senate; Hon. JOHN G.. CARLISLE, Speaker
House OF epresentatives--.Sir: The Ameri-
can Shipping and Industrial League, at tho
national union convention, recently assem-
bled In this city, unanimously passed the
following resolutions and ordered that the
undersigned committee should presentsthe
same to both houses OF Congress:
RESOLUTIONS.
The American shipping and Industrial
League, In national convention assembled in
the city of Washington, d. o., do DECLARE
the deveopment vs ana dsiributon s S Of r. pFoi
uots of American labor by the extension OF
the merchant marine OF the United States, and
70 pu establish thereby more Intimate CONNER G
quent and direct mail service.
Second. That an increase OF our merchant
marine is demanded by the considerations OF
the most momentous character, among which
mny be mentioned:
lst The fact that the people of the United
States are now producing so much more OF the
raw materials from farm and mine, and such
superabundance OF manufactured goods, that
our home markets are glut cd and stagnation
thereby produced in every branch OF ira le
| and Industry. Stagnntion, experience has
| shown, Is the parent of financial crises, which
bring ruin to the producing classes OF every
community.
"a Our markets would be those of Central
and South America, the West Indies, Asia, and
| Australasia, from which we are practically OK.
cluded at this time By the inadequate facilities
we have Tor transporting our products TO their
cd The distribution of all American products
could be more promptly and &c ~ G,lly
| can shipping, if snch facilities were at all ale
| qunte for the needs Of the hour. The economic
fact is generally overlooked by those not in
immediate contact with practical commerce
are transported carries with II command Of the
| market TO which the goods consigned an1 also
controls the exchnngesby which payments nre
| effected.
Third. That the decay of American shipping
and its injurious effect upon all our industries
| demands not alone the thoughtful attention of
| intelligent men, but the adoption also Of meas
i uIes both prompt and efficient for arresting
the evil and restoring our merchant marine to
| lis former prosperous condition. IL was the
| birthplace Of our navy, and should bs the
| nursery for the gallant men who are to make
our flag respected and feared upon every sea.
| Fourth. The rapidly developing industries
L OF the gulf states In the mining of coal and
iron and In the manufacture OF cotton goods
make the demand for new outlets and in
i creased facilities of transportation impora-
| ports of our southern states to the various
Spanish and Portuguese American countries
| gives the United States an insurmountable ad :
| vantage over oil foreign countries in point OF
| distance and time for the supply of the Dro
visions, breadstuiis, and other products of the
| great Mississippi valley, OF which said coun-
| tries are large consumers and which, for want
OF properly sustained merchant marine, are
now supplied to great extent from foreign
| countries. This need the general government
should satisfy and in doing so the benefits
would be distributed to every portion OF our
Fifth. That this convention should urge
upon Congress OF the the United States the pas.
sage of what is known as the "Bounty bill,
| which provides that every vessel, sail and
steam, built and owned in the United States
trading with foreign ports, shall be allowed
thirty cents per ton for each one thousand
miles sailed or steamed for period of twenty
years, one third reduction OF said rate tn be
made at the end of the first ten years from the
date the act of Congress shall take effect.
We have the honor, therefore, to present
these resolutions In conformity with the
instruction of that convention, that they
may have the attention necessary, and In
behalf of which we beg your kind interest
Very respectfully, your obedient servants,
(Signed) John M. Martin, OF Alabama,
chairman; cambridge McRae, Of Arkansas;
Charles s. FELTON,, of California; Ward La
mon, Of Colorado; l.. NJ. Merritt, of Florida;
Charles B. Lore, Of Delaware; r. w. Town
shend, Of Illinois; N. d. Wallace, of Louis
| lana; d. Il. IaVensalter, OF Name; d. Is.
Gilfllan, of Minnesota; j. p. Jones, of
Nevada; James Ii. Winchester, OF New
Jersey; James E. Ward, of New York;
John A. Ganno, Of North Carolina; Joseph
N. Dolph, of Oregon; II. II. Bingham, of
Pennsylvania; Jonathan Chace, Of Rhode
Island; John NJ. Keatlng, OF Tennessee; p.
G. Wellford, of Virginia; Philip Pendleton,
of West Virginia; Curtis 2. Bean, Of Arl-
Voorhees,, of Washington territory; S. W.
Downey, Of Wyoming.
The above is true copy Of the resolutions
presented to both houses OF Congress In
conformity with the action of the league.
| JOSEPH WHEELER, President.
| CHARLES s. HILL, Secretary.
| Interests and delegates present and &c.
| credited to the National Union Convention
of the American Shipping and Industrial
League, assembled at Washington, Jan. IS
| and 10, 1887: